Family Heirlooms...post ‘em

[7x57hunter]

I thought this might be fun... Anyone have axes that were their grandfathers or Great grandfathers? Here are mine...my Great Grandfathers “R. King” that I rehung. My Great Grandfathers “Homestead”. My grandfathers Collins 3-1/2 and his E&S 3lb. And the 3-1/2 Keen Kutter he gave me when I was 15 with a White Ash handle I made from a plank that my grandfathers best friend sawed for me on his sawmill. I made it too thin though and it was kind of whippy and finally cracked when I was felling a tree.

 

[A17]

I've only got a few heirlooms but I'll post 'em up. The axe is my first axe and a gift from a family friend. He gave me the head and I've hung it 3 times so far. Try #1 was on a Truper haft, which I thinned too aggressively and ruined. Try #2 was a vintage octagonal haft which broke due to runout, and #3 is another octagonal haft which has held up so far. It isn't anything special, just a paper label 'slasher, but it will never leave my hands. The two scythes were both gifts with the dark-handled one coming from my grandpa and the light handled one coming from a now-deceased neighbor's family farm. Finally, although I don't have any pictures of them, a friend gave me a hand-made toolbox which had been made by her great-grandfather containing 3 hand planes, all of which had been passed down through her family. The planes consisted of a large wooden jointer plane, a Millers Falls smoothing plane, and a Union tongue and groove plane. She has no relatives to pass them on to so she gave them to me because she knew I'd appreciate them and use them. I feel deeply honored that she gave them to me and you can bet that they'll never leave my possession until I have someone to pass them on to.

 

[A17]

Well shucks, I guess I should have read the post as well as the title. As my family tree consists of mostly of wheat/dairy farmers, there are only two axes in the family, both belonging to my paternal grandpa. The first is a 60's Mann-made Craftsman and the second is a Brown-Camp Hardware co axe that I rehung. How the second made it from a Des Moines hardware store to California will remain a mystery.

 

[E.D.C.]

I have nothing at the moment to add to this thread, but I really thought it deserved a little bump.

 

[Bigfattyt]

Paternal Grandfather's barlow

Partial fingerprint from Grandpa!

Paternal Grandfather's butcher knives. These were used to butcher their own cows and pigs. (Top two)

I also have his father's razor and strop (my great grandfather on dad's side). Need to get a new photo, as the great Photohucket robbery took them.



Maternal Grandfather's S&W 66 .357

I have three knives from my wife's grandfather/great grandfather.

 

[plumberroy]

The axe on the left was bought by my late Uncle for the family farm in 1939 or 1940 . It is marked Kelly works Vulcan and True Temper I have put several handles in it . It was the first axe I hung because I broke the handle throwing it at a tree. When I was 13 or so (1975ish) dad was reading me the riot act until my Uncle's reminded him that he broke the original handle out throwing it .

 

[7x57hunter]

I love seeing these pics of things that have been in the family for generations...so much history and a testament to quality tools that last lifetimes

 

[plumberroy]

It is unusual to have Markings of Kelly works Vulcan and True Temper . That is also early for the true temper marking . I was told by a axe expert who knew a lot of history that there were a few marked that way . It was purchased from the feed mill my uncle work for all the way through the depression. That was about 20-25 miles from the kelly foundry in Charleston WV